Judy
Blume’s next novel, "In the Unlikely Event,"
is coming in June 2015 from Knopf. It’s her first book
for adults in 15 years.

Blume
is best known to generations of readers for her funny
kids books that dealt with serious adolescent problems:
sibling rivalry in "Tales of a Fourth-Grade
Nothing," bullying in "Blubber," blooming
sexuality in "Deenie," and "Are You There
God? It’s Me, Margaret." But she also has written
bestselling books for adults, including the racy "Wifey."
Worldwide, her books have sold a total of more than 85
million copies.

Blume’s
new novel, "In the Unlikely Event," takes as
its starting point a series of real-life airline crashes
near Elizabeth, N.J., where Blume grew up, in 1951-52.

"These
events have lingered in my mind ever since," Blume
said in a release from publisher Knopf. "It was a
crazy time. We were witnessing things that were
incomprehensible to us as teenagers. Was it sabotage? An
alien invasion? No one knew, and people were
understandably terrified."

The
"alien invasion" may seem strange, but Orson
Welles’ sensational radio broadcast "War of the
Worlds," which aired in 1938, had placed its
fictional alien invasion in New Jersey. And in the
1950s, space aliens were all the rage.

Knopf
further describes the novel: "With her rich
imagination, Blume uses this background to weave
together a story with an unforgettable ensemble of
families and friends across three generations. The
hallmark traits of Blume – a deep concern for her
characters and the authentic capture of an era – are
evident on every page as we see her protagonists grow
up, fall in love, marry, cope with loss, deal with
estranged parents and difficult friendships and familial
obligations, remember the good times, and finally,
wonder at the joy that keeps them going."

Blume’s
longtime editor Carole Baron added, "Judy has been
hinting at writing this book for many years, and I think
she finally got to a point in her life when she couldn’t
hold on to the story any longer. It is a remarkable
narrative – gripping and moving – and not
surprisingly, a book that will keep readers on the edge
of their seats."